E! has been criticised for referring to Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's in its Golden Globes coverage

E! CHANNEL'S Golden Globes coverage is under fire after it used Michael J. Fox's battle with Parkinson's disease as part of a 'fun fact'.

A photo of the E! fun fact which is being circulated on social media. Photo: Twitter

The E! channel has apologised for an "insensitive" fun fact about Michael J. Fox which was shown during their coverage of the Golden Globes red carpet arrivals.

The fact, which was shown on their live stream, said, "Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991".

LIVE COVERAGE INSIDE THE GOLDEN GLOBES

A screencap of the comment is drawing a lot of criticism online, with many social media users expressing shock that E! would consider Fox's illness 'fun'.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, E! has apologised for the fact.

"We regret the insensitive classification of Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's diagnosis during our Eonline [sic] live stream. We understand the serious nature of the disease and sincerely apologize."

this is in no way a FUN fact pic.twitter.com/uJ9zSVuEwy

— Amanda Lucci (@alucci) January 12, 2014

#ERedCarpet So there is a "fun fact" associated with Michael J. Fox's Parkinsonism? Go home, E, you're tasteless.

— Rebecca (@BexaRaven) January 13, 2014

Someone is getting fired for that Michael J. Fox "fun fact" but the absurdity of it made me laugh ... really freaking loud.

— Ray Legendre (@CajunTomato) January 12, 2014

Of course the channel that tortures the world with The Kardashians would call Michael J Fox's 1991 diagnoses of Parkinson's a "Fun fact"

— Avi Saini (@AvikarSaini) January 12, 2014